Europe Seeks Replacement for Musk’s Starlink, Eutelsat Enters the Fray

The French satellite operator Eutelsat was thrust into the spotlight last week as a potential replacement for Starlink Elon Musk in Ukraine – and potentially broader Europe. Eva Berneke, CEO of Eutelsat, stated that the company is in advanced discussions with the EU about expanding its internet service in Ukraine. She also mentioned that Eutelsat is in ‘very positive talks’ with Italy regarding the provision of encrypted communication services for government officials. In the same week, investors rallied behind Eutelsat, sending its shares soaring over 500%, according to TNW. But what exactly is Eutelsat? And can it realistically replace Starlink in Ukraine and beyond?

Mission of Independence

In 1977, 17 European countries joined forces to create the European Telecommunications Satellite Organization – abbreviated as ‘Eutelsat’. The idea was to develop a satellite telecommunications infrastructure independent of the USA or the Soviet Union. In 1983, Eutelsat became the first European provider of satellite television, was privatized in 2001, and in 2023 merged with the British OneWeb to become the third-largest satellite operator in the world. Through the merger, Eutelsat inherited OneWeb’s constellation of low Earth orbit satellites for internet communication – similar to its larger competitor Starlink.

Eutelsat currently has 653 OneWeb satellites orbiting the Earth, each circling about 1,200 kilometers above the surface. This relative proximity results in lower latency and faster internet speeds compared to traditional geostationary satellites, which are about 30 times farther out in space.

Ground stations are connected to the internet and transmit data to satellites orbiting above. The satellites then relay data to user terminals, small devices with antennas that enable internet access in areas where traditional connections are unavailable. These user terminals are particularly useful in remote areas, aircraft, ships, vehicles, or, as seen in Ukraine, conflict zones.

Can Eutelsat Replace Starlink in Ukraine?

Eutelsat told TNW that it offers the same coverage and capabilities as Starlink. The company’s low Earth orbit (LEO) services are already deployed in Ukraine, supporting government and institutional communication. Additionally, Eutelsat stated that its geostationary orbit (GEO) systems could provide extra capacity over Ukraine, as well as ‘stronger resilience’ for connecting critical infrastructure. Currently, Eutelsat has about 2000 user terminals in the field in Ukraine. This is significantly less than Starlink’s 40,000, but Berneke said her company could reach that number in a few months.

However, such a rapid increase in capacity would present some serious logistical challenges, especially since OneWeb terminals are supplied by third-party companies, unlike Starlink. Poland and the USA, among others, have helped finance Ukraine’s use of Starlink, and similar support would likely be needed for the rapid deployment of OneWeb terminals. There is also the technology itself. OneWeb’s satellites are older and less advanced than Starlink’s. They lack inter-satellite laser link technology, which enhances coverage. They also have far fewer satellites in orbit than Starlink, which has about 7,000.

However, if the EU is serious about replacing Starlink in Ukraine, it will likely have to settle for second best. The Union will also need to take on serious financial commitments. News from Poland this weekend brought positive developments in that regard. In a post on X on Sunday, the Polish Foreign Minister stated that the country would be forced to ‘look for other suppliers’ if SpaceX proves to be an ‘unreliable supplier’. Warsaw is currently financing half of the 42,000 Starlink terminals operating in the country at a cost of about $50 million annually.